The First Front-Engine Soft-Top Model Since the 365 GTS/4—The Ferrari Roma Spider Arrives

Ferrari Roma Spider | Ferrari Roma Spider

The FR Soft-Top Spider Returns After 54 Years

On March 16, Ferrari unveiled the Roma Spider, a soft-top version of the Roma, at an exclusive, invitation-only event held at the El Badi Palace in Marrakech, Morocco.

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A Model for Elegant, Open-Air Drives Beyond the City

The Ferrari Roma was conceived with the concept of reviving the glamorous lifestyle of Rome in its heyday, reminiscent of Federico Fellini's "La Dolce Vita," a film by the Italian cinematic master that depicted the hedonistic lifestyle of celebrities in Rome during the 1950s.

The First Front-Engine Soft-Top Model Since the 365 GTS/4—The Ferrari Roma Spider Arrives | Ferrari

The soft-top spider model has now been unveiled for this elegant V8 2+ coupe, which Flavio Manzoni, head of Ferrari's Styling Centre, described as an "F1 car in an evening dress."

This marks the return of a front-engine soft-top model to Ferrari's lineup for the first time in 54 years, since the "365 GTS4" in 1969.

Manzoni stated, "We designed this model with the aim of expanding the concept of 'sweet life revived in the modern era' and enabling elegant, open-air drives beyond the city." The soft-top, which follows the coupe's elegantly flowing silhouette, offers a wealth of personalization options, including dedicated fabrics and accent stitching.

In terms of functionality, the soft-top can be opened or closed in just 13.5 seconds, even while driving at speeds up to 60 km/h. Furthermore, its extremely compact design ensures the largest trunk capacity in its class, making it a versatile GT car.

Aerodynamics have also been meticulously refined. Specifically, based on the soft-top's adoption and the indirectly affected geometry, extensive numerical analysis was performed on the roofline and front curves to efficiently generate downforce without compromising the coupe model's low drag. Additionally, the rear active spoiler has been modified to match the changes in the bodywork.

Comfort has also been a priority. For instance, a newly adopted patented automatic wind deflector, which can be deployed without stopping, has been incorporated to minimize wind buffeting when the top is down. Deploying this device improves turbulence around the head by approximately 30% compared to previous +2 spiders.

Comfort when the top is closed has also been pursued. For example, the soft-top fabric features a five-layer structure that suppresses wind and road noise, ensuring a level of comfort comparable to the retractable hardtops found in other spider models within the current lineup.

The engine is the same 3,855cc V8 twin-turbo, which, like the Roma, has won the "International Engine of the Year" award for four consecutive years and was named "Best Engine of the Past 20 Years" in 2018. Its specifications of 456kW maximum output and 760Nm maximum torque are also identical.

The chassis is largely based on the Roma, but the rear section is configured using elements from the Portofino M. Additionally, the side sills have been newly developed for the spider, along with several parts necessary for the soft-top installation and the A-pillar and windscreen surround.

The increase in vehicle weight due to chassis modifications and other changes is limited to 84kg, achieving a power-to-weight ratio of 2.5kg/ps.

It is interesting to consider how it will coexist with the Portofino M, another +2 V8 spider, but the classic ambiance evoked by the soft-top and elegant styling can be said to be this car's greatest feature.